~Eel Crag~

17th August 2011

Eel Crag (Crag Hill on Ordnance Survey maps) is the fell that looms largest in the view south-east from Scotgate campsite in Braithwaite, where I'm camping. I've been on the summit a good few times, but never attempted a direct ascent as per Wainwright's Book Six.

Causey Pike

Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....

Scotgate Campsite

A busy place in the height of the holiday season. I took a gamble coming here, but there was room and it's an ideal base for fellwalking in the northern reaches of Lakeland. It's 16:30 and I'm ready for a leg stretch.

Coledale Footpath

Taking the Whinlatter Road, there is a sneaky little footpath which links the tarmac with the Coledale mine road, it saves going up to the little car park and doubling back.

Braithwaite

With height soon gained and arriving at the mine road, the view over Braithwaite opens up. Great Mell Fell is the most distant bump on the horizon. Latrigg on the left and Clough Head on the right.

Busy Coledale Mine Road

Accessibility

The Coledale Mine Road

Bill & Ben

Views in Coledale Mine Road

It's just over two miles from Scotgate to the ford over the beck, but it's easy walking and it was great to see the lady in the wheelchair able to access such a remote and beautiful place. There were plenty of walkers and cyclists on the mine road. Bill & Ben, with their matching headgear turned out to be the last folk I saw on my walk.

The Ford

The ford was just fordable after recent rainfall. I took the path into Long Comb (Sail) before contouring round to find "The Shelf Route" up Eel Crag - as per AW NW Fells Page 7. I'd aimed for this back in May this year on a route off Outerside, but was discouraged by persistent rain and low clouds.

Outerside

Force Crag Mine and Grisedale Pike

Views from The Shelf

Force Crag

The dramatic Force Crag and waterfalls. A view for the miners for countless years.

Scout Crag

I've been reading Peter Wilson's book on Lake District Landforms and I think there may be a "Protalus Rampart" at the foot of Scout Crag. Go and have a look for yourselves and let me know what you think!

Skiddaw

Skiddaw and Blencathra from The Shelf. Outerside on the right and Grisedale Pike on the left.

The Wider View

The Shelf Route offers unrivalled views of Coledale and Force Crag. A little bit of Derwentwater comes into view.

Grisedale Pike

Turtle Head on Eel Crag

Very fragile rockface on Eel Crag, ready for a tumble in my opinion.

Crag Hill

Long flat top of Crag Hill (Eel Crag in Wainwright Books).

Eel Crag Summit 2749ft

The Trig Column is not far from collapsing. This is a tragedy, this is one of my favourite fell tops and the trig is an important part of the landscape un here. We need sand, cement, water, a board, a trowel and some volunteers and we need them soon.

Robinson

Robinson from Eel Crag. The ridge of Knott Rigg nearer the camera.

Great Gable and The Scafells

Sail

My route leaves Eel Crag and heads for Sail. If Robinson has a "prosaic" name, how about Sail?

Sail Summit 2530ft

Sail is not one of my favourite summits, but it does possess a puddle and I've used it as foreground for this view back to Eel Crag.

Scar Crags

Directly in front is Scar Crags, to the left is Outerside. It's possible to avoid the zig-zags by taking a path to the left. Is that the right thing to do? Or should we extend our walks by zigging and zagging on the manufactured walkway. Discuss.

Ard Crags

The highpoint of Ard Crags clings on to the last of the day's sunshine.

Scar Crags Summit 2205ft

There is still time to carry on to Causey Pike. It occured to me that my monthly phone bill needed paying by tomorrow, so I wonder if I'm the only person ever to pay their phone bill by card from the top of Causey Pike?

Causey Pike

The summit stands at 2035ft asl and is just 3/4 mile away. A true "Ridge Route" if ever there was one.

Rowling End from Causey Pike

My route is down into the dip and then off to the left to Stonycroft Bridge.

Sunset over Hopegill Head

Time to put the camera away. What a great way to spend a summer evening!

Weather and conditions: Sunny, cooler on the tops, little in the way of wind.

Greetings Count: The first person I spoke to was Maggie, friend and fellow fellwalker. She stopped her car at the foot of Whinlatter Pass and reported on her day out on Pillar. Then it was busy on the Coledale mine road, the last folk I saw were those chaps with the flowerpot hats.